Gurja Khani & Dhorpatan Circuit Trek - 14 Days

Dhorpatan · 14 Days

Gurja Khani & Dhorpatan Circuit Trek - 14 Days

· Moderate to Strenuous · Max altitude 3,850m (12,631 ft) at Rugachaur Pass · Max group 2-12 people

Duration

14 Days

Max Altitude

3,850m (12,631 ft)

at Rugachaur Pass

Grade

Moderate to Strenuous

Lodging

Homestay / Teahouse / Tented camp

Overview

The Gurja Khani and Dhorpatan loop is a 14-day off-grid circuit through the southern face of the Dhaulagiri massif and into Nepal's only hunting reserve. The route links three high passes - Gurja La (3,250m), Rugachaur (3,850m) and Jaljala (3,400m) - and connects a string of Magar villages, Tibetan refugee settlements at Dhorpatan and the still-remote copper-mining hamlet of Gurja Khani. Walking days are 5-7 hours and the maximum sleeping altitude stays under 3,000m, which makes it a friendly altitude profile for a multi-pass trek.

This is the trek to choose if you want Dhaulagiri-Annapurna scale views without the cost or commitment of the Dhaulagiri Circuit or Round Annapurna. Trekker numbers are very low - you can easily walk a full day without seeing another foreigner - and the lodging is a mix of community homestays in the lower sections and basic camping where no village exists. Permits route through the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve so a TIMS card plus the reserve permit is required.

Highlights

  • Cross three Himalayan passes - Gurja La, Rugachaur and Jaljala - in a single circuit
  • Walk through Nepal's only official hunting reserve at Dhorpatan
  • Up-close views of Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Gurja Himal (7,193m), Putha Himal (7,246m) and Churen Himal (7,371m)
  • Stay with Magar villagers in working community homestays
  • Visit the Tibetan refugee settlement at Dhorpatan
  • See blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, ghoral and rare pheasant species
  • Avoid the Annapurna/Everest crowds completely - this trail sees few foreign trekkers
  • Sub-alpine pine forests, rhododendron groves and high pastures
  • Low maximum sleeping altitude (under 3,000m) reduces AMS risk
  • No flights required - all jeep/bus access from Kathmandu via Pokhara

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300m)

🍽 None included

Welcome at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer to your hotel in Thamel. Evening briefing about the trek.

Day 2

Kathmandu sightseeing and preparation

🍽 Breakfast

Half-day tour of Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Swayambhunath. Final gear check and permit paperwork.

Day 3

Drive Kathmandu to Pokhara (850m)

⏱ 7-8 hours ↔ 205 km 🍽 Breakfast

Tourist bus along the Prithvi Highway. Evening stroll by Phewa Lake.

Day 4

Drive Pokhara to Dharapani (1,560m)

⏱ 6-7 hours 🍽 Breakfast

Jeep transfer west to the Myagdi valley trailhead.

Day 5

Trek Dharapani to Lulang (2,450m)

⏱ 7 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Climb through Magar villages and oak forest to Lulang. Homestay.

Day 6

Trek Lulang to Gurja Khani (2,650m) via Gurja Pass (3,250m)

⏱ 7-8 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The first big day - cross the Gurja La with full Dhaulagiri-Gurja Himal panorama, then drop to Gurja Khani.

Day 7

Rest and acclimatisation at Gurja Khani

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Optional half-day hike toward Gurja Himal base camp viewpoint. Visit the abandoned copper mines and community bathhouse.

Day 8

Trek Gurja Khani to Gurjaghat (3,000m) via Rugachaur Pass (3,850m)

⏱ 7-8 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The highest day of the trek. Cross Rugachaur with full Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges in view, then descend to the broad Dhorpatan plateau.

Day 9

Explore Dhorpatan

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Rest day in the Tibetan refugee settlement. Visit the carpet workshops and monastery.

Day 10

Trek Gurjaghat to Lumsung via Jaljala Pass (3,400m)

⏱ 6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cross the third and final pass with rhododendron forest on the descent.

Day 11

Trek Lumsung to Darbang

⏱ 6-7 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Final walking day to the roadhead at Darbang.

Day 12

Drive Darbang to Pokhara (850m)

⏱ 3-4 hours 🍽 Breakfast

Jeep transfer to Pokhara. Free afternoon and lakeside dinner.

Day 13

Drive Pokhara to Kathmandu

⏱ 6-7 hours 🍽 Breakfast

Return tourist bus to Kathmandu. Farewell dinner.

Day 14

Departure

🍽 Breakfast

Airport transfer for your onward flight.

Ready to walk this?

Enquire now →

What's included

Included

  • Tourist bus or private jeep transfer Kathmandu-Pokhara-Dharapani and return
  • Airport pickup and drop in Kathmandu
  • 3 nights twin-share 3-star hotel in Kathmandu
  • 2 nights twin-share hotel in Pokhara
  • Homestay and teahouse lodging during the trek
  • Tented camping in two unmanned stages
  • Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve permit and TIMS card
  • Licensed English-speaking trek leader
  • 1 porter per 2 trekkers (insured, equipped)
  • Half-day Kathmandu sightseeing with city guide
  • All applicable government taxes and service charges
  • HHT company duffel bag and first-aid kit

Not included

  • International airfare to/from Kathmandu
  • Nepal visa fee (US$50 for 30 days)
  • Mandatory travel insurance with high-altitude rescue cover
  • Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu and Pokhara
  • Hot showers, charging, Wi-Fi at homestays
  • Bottled and boiled water during the trek
  • Personal trekking equipment
  • Tips for the guide and porters

Trek guide

Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve

Established in 1987 across the Rukum, Baglung and Myagdi districts, Dhorpatan is the only protected area in Nepal that allows regulated trophy hunting (blue sheep and Himalayan tahr) under permit. Outside the hunting season the reserve functions like any national park, with blue sheep grazing visibly above the trail. The Tibetan refugee settlement at Dhorpatan itself dates from 1959 and produces hand-woven carpets and yak-wool textiles.

Gurja Khani Village

At 2,650m, Gurja Khani is the highest permanent settlement in this part of the Dhaulagiri massif. The village name translates to "copper mine" - the abandoned tunnels and slag heaps from a 19th-century mining operation are still visible on the southern slope. A community bathhouse with hydropower-heated water is the unexpected luxury of the trek.

The Three Passes

  • Gurja La (3,250m) - the gentlest of the three, crossed on Day 5 to enter Gurja Khani
  • Rugachaur Pass (3,850m) - the high point of the trek, crossed on Day 7 with the widest panorama
  • Jaljala Pass (3,400m) - the descent gateway from Dhorpatan back to the Myagdi valley

Acclimatisation

Because the route never sleeps above 3,000m, AMS risk is low compared to most multi-pass treks. The rest day at Gurja Khani exists more for cultural immersion than for acclimatisation per se.

Permits

  • Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Entry Permit
  • TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) card

Both arranged in Kathmandu before departure.

Best Season

  • Spring (March-May): Rhododendrons in full bloom in the lower forests, mild day temperatures
  • Autumn (September-November): Clearest visibility on the high passes
  • Avoid mid-June to August (monsoon) - leeches on the lower trail, cloud cover on the passes

Fitness

Moderate-to-strenuous. Daily walking 5-7 hours, two passes above 3,400m on the same day in one section. 2-3 months of cardio preparation including hill walking is recommended.

Packing list

Clothing: Down jacket -10C, fleece, waterproof shell, 3 trekking shirts, 2 quick-dry trousers, thermal base layers, 5 pairs socks, beanie, sun hat, neck buff, gloves

Footwear: Waterproof mid-cut boots already broken in, camp shoes

Accessories: 35L daypack, 60L duffel for porter, -10C sleeping bag, trekking poles, headlamp, polarised sunglasses, 2L water bottles, purification, power bank, universal adapter

Documents: Passport with Nepal visa, insurance certificate, 4 passport photos

Medical: Diamox optional, painkillers, blister care, SPF 50+ sunscreen, lip balm

Frequently asked questions

How crowded is this trek?
Almost not at all. Dhorpatan sees perhaps a few hundred foreign trekkers per year compared to tens of thousands on Annapurna.

Can I hunt in the reserve?
Not on this itinerary. Hunting permits are a separate process restricted to a small October-December window and managed by a different operator.

How basic are the homestays?
Plywood rooms, shared kitchen, foam mattresses, squat toilets. Hot bucket showers in Gurja Khani thanks to the village hydro plant.

Do I need mountaineering gear?
No - this is a walking trek. No ropes, crampons or technical skills required.

Will I get AMS?
Risk is low - the highest sleep is around 3,000m and you only briefly touch 3,850m on the pass.

Why are there two passes on Day 8 but the title only lists Rugachaur?
Rugachaur is the named high point. You also cross some unnamed minor undulations on the same day; the trail is rough but not technical.

What wildlife will I actually see?
Blue sheep are common above 3,000m. Himalayan tahr in steeper terrain. Danphe (Himalayan monal pheasant) in the forest. Snow leopards are present but extremely rarely sighted.

Are mobile phones working?
Ncell and NTC have intermittent coverage at Dhorpatan and on the higher ridges. None in Gurja Khani.

What if it rains on the pass?
We carry tents and can wait out a day. Spring and autumn passes are generally dry.

How fit do I need to be?
Capable of 7 hours hill walking with a daypack on consecutive days. Prior multi-day trekking helps.

Still have questions? Talk to a guide →

Why book this with us

Senior local guides. Small groups. Honest pricing.

  • Departures led by a guide who grew up in the region.
  • Max 8 trekkers per group — no convoys.
  • 100% Nepali-owned. Profit stays in the valleys.
  • Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure.
  • Permits, internal flights and TIMS handled by us.
  • 24/7 in-country support during your trek.

From $1095

per person

WhatsApp Enquire